Belarus plans to move military and military units in ‘anti-terror’ operations, state media reports.
Belarus plans to move military equipment and troops in “anti-terrorist” operations, state news agency BelTA reported, amid fears that Russia could launch an attack on Ukraine from Belarus’ border.
“At this time, they are planning to move military equipment and national security personnel,” state news agency BelTA quoted the Security Council of Belarus as saying.
“The movement of citizens [transport] in the streets and other public areas will be prohibited and the use of false devices in teaching is planned.”
Officials plan to move in Wednesday and Thursday, but there was no word on which areas would be affected or how long the work would take.
For nine months, Belarus has not participated in a direct war in Ukraine, but in the past President Alexander Lukashenko ordered the military to go with Russian troops near the border of Ukraine, threatening Belarus from Kyiv and the West.
Ukraine has shared its fears for months that Belarus and Russia could join forces to attack the country from its northern border.
Former Soviet Union states Belarus and Russia are closely related economically and militarily. Russia has used Belarus as a springboard for its failure in Kyiv since February 24, despite Lukashenko’s years-long refusal to send Russian troops to Belarus.
In 2020, Moscow and Minsk relied on their cooperation as Russia helped Lukashenko quell pro-democracy protests after contested elections.
In October, Lukashenko announced Russia’s new deployment of 9,000 troops to Belarus as part of a new army.
“Enemy units are training at the training center of the Republic of Belarus” and Russian guerrillas continued to launch from the territory of Belarus, the General Staff of Ukraine said in a statement posted on Facebook.
Last week, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu held talks with his Belarusian counterpart Viktor Khrenin to discuss military cooperation.
